Rhynchitidae

Rhynchitidae
Byctiscus betulae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Superfamily:	Curculionoidea
Family:	Rhynchitidae (disputed)

Byctiscus populi in copula and leaf-rolling

The tooth-nosed snout weevils, Rhynchitidae, are small beetles (1.5 to 6.5 mm) that are usually found vegetation. They usually use buds, fruits, or seeds for oviposition. The tooth-nosed snout weevils receive this name due to the teeth on the edges of their mandibles.

Traditionally considered a subfamily of Attelabidae within the Curculionoidea (weevils and relatives), the tooth-nosed snout weevils are regarded as a separate family Rhynchitidae by some authorities.

A common member of this group is the rose curculio, Merhynchites bicolor, which feeds on roses.

A number of species from Rhynchitidae are recorded from Britain.

The thief weevil, Pterocolus ovatus, is the only pterocoline (subfamily Pterocolinae) known from North America. It is an obligate egg predator and nidus kleptoparasite (nest thief) of some beetles in the family Attelabidae.

Taxonomy

Selected genera

• Auletobius
• Byctiscus
• Deporaus
• Merhynchites
• Pterocolus
• Rhynchites

References

• Triplehorn CA, Johnson NF. 2005. Borror and Delong's Introduction to the Study of Insects. 7th Edition. ISBN 0-03-096835-6
• Hall DW, Buss LJ. (2007). Thief weevil, Pterocolus ovatus Fabricius. Featured Creatures. EENY-420.

External links

• Pterocolus ovatus, thief weevil on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site